(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Henk Seppen)
      Netherlands empty-handed vs. Chinese Taipei in third game World Baseball Classic
Nederlands
 TAICHUNG (Taiwan) -
The Netherlands (or Team Kingdom of the Netherlands) was left empty-handed in its third game of the fifth edition of the World Baseball Classic.
After having won its first two games, the Orange Team lost 9-5 against (Pool-host) Chinese Taipei on Saturday (March 11).
The Netherlands Team opened the event on Wednesday-afternoon with a 4-2 win against Cuba.
The next day, the team of Manager Hensley Meulens also won its second game, defeating Panama with a 3-1 score.
With that, the team not only moved into first place in Pool A, it also moved itself into a good position to advance to the Second Round (which is the Quarter Finals).
The Netherlands had the day off on Friday, but two games were played in this Pool.
Cuba recovered from its losses against the Netherlands and Italy and won big against Panama with a 13-4 score to stay in the race for advancing to the next round.
Chinese Taipei won 11-7 against Italy, which earlier today also lost to Panama, 2-0.
After today's results, everything is possible on Sunday, the final day of competition in this Pool.
One of the scenario's is a tie between all five teams in this Pool.
That will happen when Cuba wins against Chinese Taipei and when Italy outscores the Netherlands.
When that happens, the tie-breaker to come to a ranking will be a formula in which runs given up become very important.
The team with the lowest average of Runs Against divided by Defensive Outs will then end up in first place.
In case Chinese Taipei wins against Cuba, it will finish in first place.
When the Netherlands wins against Italy and Chinese Taipei loses, the Orange Team will be the Pool-winner.
When both win, Chinese Taipei is first and the Netherlands will finish in second place.
This is the scenario when the Netherlands and Cuba both win.
The Netherlands then will finish in first place and Cuba finishes second, as it then has won the head-to-head game against Chinese Taipei.
...Almost 19,000 spectators attended the game in a...
...sold-out Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
When Chinese Taipei and Italy win on Sunday, the first will be the Pool-winner.
Italy, the Netherlands and Panama then will end up in a tie.
As the head-to-head results then also will create a tie, the run-formula also will be used to determine who will finish in second place.
So, to avoid all these tiebreak scenario's, the Netherlands has to win against Italy.
However, a loss not necessarily means the worst.
But in case of a loss, it is important not to give that many runs.
After today's games, the Netherlands has the best runs-against-average (.156), followed by Cuba (.173), Italy (.198), Panama (.200) and Chinese Taipei (.296).
In Pool B, China today became the first team to be eliminated after losing 12-2 in seven innings against Australia.
Japan won 10-2 against the Czech Republic.
Yesterday, Japan outscored South Korea 13-4, but the Czechs won 8-5 against China to record their first-ever WBC-victory.
Today, the first games also were played in Pool C (Phoenix, Arizona) and Pool D (Miami, Florida), which are both played in the USA.
In Pool C, Colombia won 5-4 against Mexico in 10 innings and the USA won 6-2 against Great Britain.
In the Colombia vs. Mexico game, Dutch umpire Edwin Louisa was at first base in a crew with American Major League-Umpires Cory Blaser (HP) and Doug Eddings (2B).
At third base was Jairo Mendoza from Nicaragua.
In Pool D, Puerto Rico recorded a combortable 9-1 win against Nicaragua and Venezuela outscored the powerful team of the Dominican Republic, 5-1.
Although this was the 82nd game overall between the Netherlands and Chinese Taipei in history, it was only the third time the teams met during a World Baseball Classic.
The first time was in 2013 when the two teams also faced each other in Taichung.
Back then, Chinese Taipei also won (8-3).
Six years ago, the Netherlands nipped Chinese Taipei 6-5 in the First Round, which then was played in South Korean capital Seoul.
Today, ten years after they first met during a WBC, Chinese Taipei again outscored the Netherlands.
Initially, the game started well for the Netherlands, as the team took an early lead in the top of the first inning.
That mainly has to be credited to catcher Kungkuan Giljegiljaw, who had an unlucky start of the game, as did starting pitcher Tzu-Peng Huang.
The righthanded sub-mariner gave up a lead-off single by Jurickson Profar, who then moved into scoring position on a passed ball.
Thereafter, Huang hit Roger Bernadina with a pitch.
Moments later, Profar advanced to third base on another passed ball.
Last season, Giljegiljaw was credited with only six passed balls in 45 games as catcher, while playing for Wei Chuan Dragons in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).
Next, Bernadina stole second base.
With that, the Orange Team had runners on second and third base with no outs.
Huang struckout Xander Bogaerts, but then gave up a runscoring single to Didi Gregorius.
With Bernadina now on third base, the at bat of next batter Jonathan Schoop was extended when catcher Giljegiljaw dropped a foul pop-fly.
Last season, the catcher committed only one error in the CPBL.
In 2014-2019, Giljegiljaw played in the American Minor Leagues in the organization of Cleveland Indians (the current Cleveland Guardians).
But the mishaps ended there.
Huang struckout Schoop and Bernadina stranded on third base, as the inning ended when Josh Palacios flied out.
In the top of the second inning, the Netherlands offense was retired in order.
Chinese Taipei also got into scoring position right away in its first at bat off of Orange-starter Lars Huijer.
The team even had the bases loaded with two outs, but was unable to score.
With one out, Huijer gave up a double to Li Lin, who moved to third base on a grounder.
The righthander then got the bases loaded when he walked Yu-Cheng Chang and Nien-Ting Wu.
The inning ended when Kungkuan Giljegiljaw flied out.
...Yu-Cheng Chang (18) is greeted...
...by Tsung-Che Cheng (1) after his...
...grand slam homerun in the 2nd...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Chinese Taipei then struck with two outs in the bottom of the second inning in what proved to be a decisive rally.
With one out, Lars Huijer got the bases loaded again.
First, he gave up a single to Po-Jung Wang, then hit next batter Kun-Yu Chiang with a pitch and walked Tsung-Che Cheng.
Shortly thereafter, Chinese Taipei came alongside when Li Lin delivered another basehit.
That kept the bases loaded and led to a pitching change.
American-born righthander Derek West took over and got a flyout, which didn't result in a run.
But with two outs, his fourth pitch (a fastball) to Yu-Cheng Chang was connected well, as the first baseman drove the ball over the centerfield-wall for a grand slam homerun!
And that put the Asian team ahead, 5-1.
The 27-year old Chang played in the Major League since 2019 for Cleveland Indians/Guardians.
Last year, he played for four different teams.
He started the season with Cleveland (4 games), where he also played in Triple-A.
At the end of May, Chang was traded by Cleveland to Pittsburgh Pirates, where he played in 18 games.
Just over a month later, his contract was purchased by Tampa Bay Rays.
There, he played in 36 Major League-games, before designated for assignment in early September.
Next, Boston Red Sox claimed him off waivers.
In the remainder of the season, Chang played in eleven games for Boston as teammate of Xander Bogaerts.
He became a Free Agent in November, but he re-signed with Boston on February 16.
The Netherlands offense was unable to come back and turn the game around again in its favor.
The Orange Team did get a chance to do something back in the top of the third inning.
The team got three baserunners, but scored only once.
With one out, Roger Bernadina and Xander Bogaerts walked, then both advanced on a wild pitch.
With runners at second and third base and only one out, Bernadina scored on a grounder by Didi Gregorius.
When next batter Jonathan Schoop was hit by a pitch, Chinese Taipei went to the bullpen.
With runners at the corners, Che-Yuan Wu took over and he got an inning-ending flyout from Josh Palacios.
In the bottom of the third, Chinese Taipei immediately added two more runs.
The bases got loaded quickly.
Kungkuan Giljegiljaw led off with a walk, then Chieh-Hsien Chen followed with a double down the leftfield-line.
There, leftfielder Jurickson Profar made a great diving stop, avoiding a run and keeping runners on second and third base.
When the ball would have gone through, it might have been an RBI-triple or maybe even an inside-the-park-homerun.
However, both would score after all.
Next, the bases got loaded when Po-Jung Wang walked.
Hereafter, Giljegiljaw scored on a sacrifice fly by Kun-Yu Chiang and that also led to a pitching change and lefthander Ryan Huntington took over from Derek West.
Despite now having a 6-2 lead early in the game, Chinese Taipei underscored that every run is important (or can become important) in this tournament.
Not only the run that a team scores itself, but especially a run that is given up by the opponent.
With Chen on third base (he had advanced on the sac-fly by Chiang), next batter Tsung-Che Cheng bunted for a basehit.
His perfect squeeze brought in Chen and he himself ended up safely at first base.
With runners on first and second base, Huntington followed with a strikeout and a flyout ended the at bat, but the Netherlands now trailed 7-2.
Chinese Taipei added another run in the bottom of the fourth.
This time, Yu-Cheng Chang led off with a single, but he was forced out on a grounder by Nien-Ting Wu.
Hereafter, it was Kungkuan Giljegiljaw who lined the ball down the leftfield-line for a double.
Wu raced around the bases, but leftfielder Jurickson Profar made a great throw to short stop Xander Bogaerts, who relayed the ball to catcher Chadwick Tromp.
While Wu slid towards the plate, he found his way blocked by the left-foot of Tromp, who stepped forwards, just at the moment that he received the ball from Bogaerts.
Wu was unable to reach the plate with his hand, was tagged by Tromp and was called out by South Korean 1B Umpire Ki-Talk Park, who had rotated to the plate.
A challenge followed (for the 'catcher's violation-rule' for blocking the plate), but after the play was reviewed, (Major League) Home Plate Umpire Mark Carlson made the out-call to confirm that the call was upheld.
Moments later, now with two outs, Giljegiljaw scored when Chieh-Hsien Chen followed with a triple.
And that lifted the lead to 8-2.
...Cheerleaders entertained the fans the entire game...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
From the fourth inning, the Orange-offense was silenced through the seventh inning by Che-Yuan Wu.
He had taken over the pitching in the third inning and he was another player that played an important role in today's win for Chinese Taipei.
The other, of course, was Yu-Cheng Chang, who hit the grand slam homerun.
In 4 1/3 inning, Wu dominated and struckout four batters.
The righthander retired the side in the fourth and sixth inning.
In the fifth, he walked lead-off hitter Jurickson Profar, struckout Roger Bernadina and then also walked Xander Bogaerts.
That at bat ended when Didi Gregorius grounded into a double play.
With one out in the top of the seventh, Chadwick Tromp singled for the Netherlands, which was the lone basehit given up by Wu.
A flyout and grounder followed.
Chinese Taipei also was kept scorelesss from the fifth inning on.
First, Juan Carlos Sulbaran retired the side in the fifth.
He then hit the lead-off hitter in the sixth, but was supported with a double play.
In the bottom of the seventh, Antwone Kelly took the mound and made his official international debut for the Netherlands.
The righthander got three consecutive grounders.
In the top of the eighth inning, the Netherlands narrowed the deficit to 8-4 off of two relievers.
Chen-Chang Lee took over the pitching from Che-Yuan Wu.
He began by striking out Xander Bogaerts, then walked Didi Gregorius and Jonathan Schoop.
Quickly, new pitcher Kuan-Yu Chen was inserted.
He struckout pinch-hitter Sharlon Schoop, but then gave up two runscoring singles.
First to Juremi Profar, who had replaced Andrelton Simmons in the sixth inning, then another one to pinch-hitter Wladimir Balentien, who batted for Richie Palacios, who also made his international debut today.
That led to another quick pichting-change.
Chia-Hao Sung took over with runners on first and second base.
Chadwick Tromp then hit a line drive into leftfield, but the ball was caught there by Po-Jung Wang, which ended the at bat.
Chinese Taipei immediately got one run back off of new pitcher Arij Fransen in the bottom of the eighth.
The righthander plays in the Minor Leagues of the Cincinnati Reds-organization and was added to the active roster after completion of the Orange training-camp last in Phoenix, Arizona (USA).
He replaced lefthander Dylan Farley, who wasn't completely fit.
Fransen was greeted with a lead-off double by Kun-Yu Chiang.
Again, to bring in an additional run, a bunt followed, this time a sacrifice bunt by Tsung-Che Cheng.
Chiang advanced to third base and the scored on a following single by Li Lin.
The latter was caught stealing and Fransen closed with a strikeout, but Chinese Taipe now led 9-4.
And this extra run meant that it even could surrender a grand slam homerun in the top of the ninth.
The Netherlands indeed scored again in the ninth, but was limited to only one run.
With one out, the run was scored when Ray-Patrick Didder homered.
Didder had entered the game in the bottom of the seventh as new centerfielder, replacing Roger Bernadina.
Hereafter, Xander Bogaerts struckout for the third time and the game ended when Didi Gregorius grounded out.
| Netherlands vs. Chinese Taipei, World Baseball Classic |
| Date | Score | Site |
| March 3, 2013 | 8-3 loss | Taichung (Taiwan) |
| March 8, 2017 | 6-5 win | Seoul (South Korea) |
| March 11, 2023 | 9-5 loss | Taichung (Taiwan) |
  |
For the Netherlands, the following players came into action today:
Jurickson Profar (LF, 1-for-4, run, walk), Roger Bernadina (CF, 0-for-2, run, walk, strikeout, stolen base), Ray-Patrick Didder (CF, 1-for-1, homerun, run, RBI), Xander Bogaerts (SS, 0-for-3, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts), Didi Gregorius (1B, 1-for-4, run, 2 RBI's, walk), Jonathan Schoop (2B, 0-for-2, run, walk, 2 strikeouts), Josh Palacios (RF, 0-for-3), Sharlon Schoop (PH/RF, 0-for-1, strikeout), Andrelton Simmons (3B, 0-for-2, strikeout), Juremi Profar (PH/3B, 1-for-2, RBI), Richie Palacios (DH, 0-for-3, strikeout), Wladimir Balentien (PH/DH, 1-for-1, RBI), Chadwick Tromp (C, 1-for-4) and pitchers Lars Huijer, Derek West, Ryan Huntington, Juan Carlos Sulbaran, Antwone Kelly and Arij Fransen.
(March 11)
Related Articles:
 Netherlands also outscores Panama in second game World Baseball Classic. (March 9)
Netherlands opens World Baseball Classic with win vs. Cuba. (March 8)
Netherlands closes exhibition-series in Taiwan with loss. (March 6)
Netherlands suffers small loss in exhibition in Taiwan; Fransen replaces Farley. (March 5)
Netherlands Team loses last exhibition-game in Arizona. (February 27)
Netherlands Team wins first exhibition-game via homerun-comeback. (February 25)
Netherlands Team suffers big loss in second exhibition-game in Arizona. (February 21)
Netherlands Team opens exhibition-series in Arizona with loss. (February 19)
Roster Netherlands Team announced for World Baseball Classic. (February 10)
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Third game World Baseball Classic 20223.